Microsoft Raises Xbox and Game Prices Citing Rising Costs
Xbox gamers, prepare to have your minds blown! Microsoft is indicating a price increase on games, consoles, and accessories. Could this increasingly high trade war stand as the final boss in the gaming world, messing with supply chains and messing with your pockets? Set yourself for the possibility of heftier charges.
It is going to be tough on gamers with this ruling: Microsoft’s horrendous price change for the Xbox Series S and X. Series S 512GB now sells for $380, an $80 increase. If you want your high-powered Series X, then you have to pay $600 now, an additional $100. Even controllers and headsets have not been spared. Following Sony’s surge of the PS5’s price in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, increases from both the manufacturers are being attributed to inflation nibbling away at our gaming budgets. Is this the end of cheap next-gen gaming?
“Navigating the shifts isn’t easy; believe us,” admitted Xbox in a truly candid blog. “We believe in following our internal compass which has led us through deep dives into an evolving marketplace and into the growing costs of bringing gaming-glory into reality. But our gaze is firmly fixed ahead: more games, more screens, more ways to play. So we’re putting a ton of value for every Xbox player so that their gaming experience is front and center.”
Microsoft is going all out for Game Pass, where games are served as a virtually limitless buffet on Xbox consoles, PCs, and even smart TVs. Dive in and enjoy the rotating menu of free titles each month. Of course, you can always purchase the game individually, some examples being the blockbuster Call of Duty series. Speaking of investments, this holiday season we will be seeing another slight price increase. From $70 to $80 will be the price for select Xbox-first party titles, imitating Nintendo’s approach for hyped titles on Switch 2. Is this the new normal for gaming prices?
This Xbox price increase is said to be due to the tariffs looming overhead, Microsoft was tight-lipped. During Wednesday’s earnings call, the company deflected questions about tariffs but admitted that concerns had pushed manufacturers, of which it was one, to stockpile inventory. Now with Xbox being heavily reliant on overseas manufacturing, and especially in China, can this be termed as the calm before the storm of increased prices?
The recommended price changes for local retailers will begin immediately.
There was a wild buying frenzy on Friday on Wall Street, and shares were licked upwards by 7.6% after investors cheered the Azure cloud performance. As the revenue growth of the tech giant’s crown jewel cloud division surpassed all expectations, investor enthusiasm was frenzied.
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